80 miles of tailgating leads to high-speed chase, arrest

A bizarre case of drug-fueled highway violence and harassment ended in Sutter County early Saturday after authorities said the teenage suspect led them on a high-speed chase.

Misti Mathers, 19, of Glencoe (Calaveras County), allegedly followed another motorist for nearly 80 miles, tailgating the driver from Lodi all the way to Sutter County, said Sgt. Rodney Van Bebber of the California Highway Patrol.

"We're still not sure why this happened. The investigation is ongoing," Van Bebber said.

Mathers was booked into the Sutter County Jail on suspicion of recklessly evading arrest and driving under the influence of drugs. She was not in custody Saturday night, according to the jail's website.

The victim, whose name was not released, called 911 around 5:30 a.m. and reported "highway violence," the CHP said.

The driver said a woman in the 2011 Ford Escape had been tailgating and harassing the victim for well over an hour on Interstate 5 and on to Highway 99 in Sutter County.

Officers spotted the driver a short time later south of Oswald Road and attempted to make a traffic stop.

Van Bebber said Mathers pulled over several times, driving away each time the officer exited his vehicle and continued north before making several U-turns on the highway between Bogue and Oswald roads.

Speeds ranged from less than 5 mph to around 90 mph, Van Bebber said.

Eventually, the driver stopped on Highway 99, south of Barry Road and was taken into custody.